Rust

Lore & Background

Rust was initially created as a clone of DayZ, a popular mod for ARMA 2, with crafting elements akin to those in Minecraft. It was first released to the Steam Early Access program in December 2013. During early access, the gameplay changed significantly: dangerous wildlife replaced zombies as the primary environmental threat, and several fundamental revisions to the crafting system were released. The game was ported to the Unity 5 game engine, providing substantial graphical changes. It also introduced immutable, predetermined skin colour tied to players' Steam account details. Despite being fully released, the game continues to receive updates.

The objective of Rust is to survive in the wilderness using gathered or stolen materials. Players must manage hunger, thirst, and health. Hostile animals such as bears, wolves, and big cats (including panthers) are present, but the primary threat is other players due to the game being solely multiplayer. Combat involves firearms and various weapons such as bows. Vehicles controlled by non-player characters occasionally roam, attacking armed players. Crafting is initially limited until specific items are discovered in the open world. Players build bases or join clans to improve survival chances, and raiding is a major aspect of the game. Rust supports modded servers that can add additional content.

The game functions on a system of 'Wipes' in which servers reset player progress weekly, biweekly, or monthly following a set monthly schedule enforced by Facepunch known as 'Force Wipe'. Force Wipes reset player structures and crafting blueprints, effectively restarting player progress on the first Thursday of each month for the release of a new update.

Reader's Guide

Rust is notable for its uncompromising multiplayer-only design, where the primary challenge comes from other players rather than the environment. The game's wipe system ensures that all players, both new and veteran, periodically start from the same point, creating a recurring race to progress. During its alpha release, critical reviews were mixed, with many comparisons made to other survival games; it was commonly described as a mixture of DayZ and Minecraft. Reviewers frequently noted the game's unfinished nature during this period. By March 2017, Rust had sold over five million copies. After leaving early access, it received mixed reviews from critics. The player versus player combat and survival aspects were highlighted by those who enjoyed the game, though reviewers were critical of the harsh beginner experience and the constant need to grind for materials. The game has continued to be successful post-release and has been listed as one of the best survival games.

Did You Know?

• Rust was initially created as a clone of the DayZ mod for ARMA 2, with crafting elements similar to Minecraft.
• The game features a 'Force Wipe' on the first Thursday of each month that resets all player progress, including blueprints.
• Players start with only a rock and a torch upon joining or respawning.
• The game was ported to the Unity 5 game engine during early access, bringing substantial graphical changes.